Washing-machine



M0 151 1 I '2 Sheet'sSheetI.

T. J. MERONEY.

WASHING MACHINE.

N0. 252,491. 1 v r Patented Jan. 17,1882.

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STATES PATENT OFFICE- WASHING- MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 252,491,0lated January 17', 1882;

Application filed October 27, 1881. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern.-

.Be it known that I, THOMAS J. MERoNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salisbury, in the county. of Rowan and State of North Carolina, have invented new and useful Improvements in Washing-Machin es,of which the following-is a specification.

This invention relates tothat class of washing-machines in which the clothes are subjected to the action of steam under the pressure of a corrugated roller. mounted in a carriage adapted to be moved in or upon a suitable tank and the invention consists in a novel construction and combination of parts, hereinafter fully described in detail and specifically set forth in the claims, whereby the clothes can be subjected to the action of steam while being operated upon by a movable frame pro} vided with a roller or similar device to rub or agitate the clothes, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, which fully illustrate my inventiomEigure 1 is a perspective view or. my improved washing-machine. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on' the line was ot' Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the tub; and Fig. 5 is a transverse section on line y y, Fig. 2.

The washing trough or tank A is oblong in form, and preferably provided with a suitable metal lining. On each outer side of this tank is a ledge or support, a, for the carriage B, in which is journaled'the corrugated rollerO.

The roller-carriage consists of two side pieces of suitable form to serve as bearings for ihe journals of the roller, and these side pieces are connected by braces b 1). That portion ofthe tank A above the ledge a on each side serves as a guidefor the carriage to assist in holding it in place. i

In order to facilitate the movements of the carriage B, and diminish friction as it passes over the ledges a, rollersc c are provided. The carriage is also provided with a handle, D, or

other devices, by means of which it may be caused to reciprocate upon the ways or ledges a a,and.the inner sides of the carriage are vertically slatted, as shown at d (I, so as to form adjustable bearings for the roller-journals. These journa s may also beheld in place by suitable springs, whereby the roller will be adapted to bear upon the clothes with a yielding pressure; but usually the weight of the '.roller will be itself sufficient to produce satisfactory results in this respect. It will be observed that the corrugations upon the roller are rounded at their edges, so as to avoid all liability of cutting or wearing the clothes. I

In the bottom of the tank A are horizontal perforated pipes e e e, which are preferably triangular in cross-section, and extend. nearly or quite from end to end of the tank. These pipes converge and incline upward atone end of the tank, and are connected by means of an upwardly-curved pipe or conduit, E, with a steamgenerator, F, located above a stove, G, or other suitable heater.

In the bottom of the tank, between the perforated pipes or tubes 6 e, are arranged slats f f, which are secured in place by cross-pieces g g or other suitable means, and act as a false bottom to protect the pipes from injury, and also to fill. up the space between the pipes and thereby present a comparatively smooth and even support for the clothes while beingsteamed and acted on by the movable frame or carriage before described. An outlet-tube, H, is provided, through which the water may be withdrawn from the tank. g

It will be seen that all the parts are detachable and may be readily adjusted when required.

The clothes or other similar articles placed within the tank are subjected, by means of the perforated pipes, to the action of steam from the generator, and are also affected by the forcible contact therewith of the air caught and driven by the deep corrugations of the roller while the latter is operated. In this way the articles treated are thoroughly cleansed and bleached, assistance being afforded by the water placed in the tank, and by the yielding pressure of the roller mounted in the reciprocating carriage. r

I would state that in lieu of the reciprocating roller-carriage, 1 .can employ a rocking frameprovided with corrugations on its under side without departing from the invention embraced in my claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a machine for washing clothes, the combination of a tank provided at its, bottom with a series of longitudinal perforated pipes connected at one end of the tank with a pipe common to all for supplying them with steam, and a series of slats located longitudinally in and filling the space between the said pipes, and a movable frame supported on the tank to be operated by the attendant, and provided With a device, substantially as described, for acting on the-clotheswhile they are subjected to the action of the steam, in the manner and for the purpose described.

2. In a machine for washing clothes, the combination of a tank having in its bottom a series of pipes connected with a steam-supply, and a series of slats arranged in and'fillin g the space between said pipes, with a traveling frame provided with a corrugated roller for acting on the clothes While they are subjected to the action of steam, substantially in the manner and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses;

THOMAS J. MERONEY, WVitnesses:

' J OHN M. HORAH, W. G. RAMsAY. 

